Shotgun Creek

From Eugene take I-105 east and exit at 42nd Street and Jasper in Springfield. Turn left on 42nd; at the stop sign turn right on Marcola Road. Travel on Marcola Road for roughly 15 miles through the towns of Mohawk and Marcola to Shotgun Creek Road. Turn left and proceed one half mile to the power line crossing. The open dirt area beneath the power lines is a good spot to begin a ride into the myriad of roads and trails to the northwest. For day use facilities (restrooms, drinking water, picnic area and swimming beach) continue up Shotgun Creek Road 1.25 miles to Shotgun Creek Recreation Site. Use hours vary with the season and all footpaths and hiking trails within the recreation site boundaries are closed to bikes. Please respect this policy.

There are many interesting miles of roads and trails in this area. All it takes to enjoy them is a map of the area, a compass, and the knowledge of how to use them. Bread crumbs will work but are less reliable.

This ride is the most ridden route in the Coburg Hills. Almost every Wednesday there is a group of rabid mountain bikers who come to this area rain or starlight. They're on a nocturnal mission. Of course, this route can be ridden during daylight hours and, in fact, it would be much easier to read a map and road numbers for the first timer.

One hundred yards up Shotgun Creek Road from the power lines is a gravel road marked 15-1-32 (known as Mainline). Turn left and follow Mainline 2.2 miles until it becomes Road 15-1-36. At this point turn right on rutted Road 15-1-32, (Yee Haw). Follow Yee Haw to a gravel road; at mile 4.0 turn left. At mile 4.1 you'll reach the high point of the ride (1700 feet). Stay left and ride to mile 4.8 where you'll cross another gravel road. Ride down to mile 4.9 and turn right down a dirt double track known as Trails Section which for a short distance is full of roots, rocks, and holes. At mile 5.6 turn left on Playway. This section is quite smooth and rolling with the opportunity to take short side loops. At mile 6.4 make a 110 degree right turn which will lead into a steep, rutted pitch known as Drop-In. Shortly after Drop-In you will cross a dirt road and ride up and over a hump. Turn left after descending off the hump onto the section known as Cross Thread. During the winter months, Cross Thread can include this route's deepest water holes and trickiest ruts.

At mile 6.9 you'll intersect a gravel road. Turn left and climb to the high point of this road at mile 7.9. Turn right onto a dirt road which runs along the ridge of a clearcut. This road veers to the right for a short distance and just as it starts to veer left there will be a large log to the right. Go around the log and youçll be on a rollercoaster double-track of Space Mountain. At mile 8.6 turn right up the gravel road. At mile 8.8 watch carefully on the left for a steep single-track which will thrill you for a short distance down to the dirt double-track known as Mud Lane. Be sure to save a little energy and bright light if you are night riding for such exciting obstacles as The Rocks, Quicks and, Glory Hole, and The Spring. On your ride down Mud Lane there will be only one questionable intersection, stay right. The bottom of Mud Lane intersects with Mainline at mile 10.3. Turn right and ride Mainline down to Shotgun Creek Road at mile 12.0.

Dave Reuter and Don Pearson